FAA Part 107 Cohort Training | Week 2, Day 6: Field Operations & Capstone

Target Audience: Veteran Cohort (Hillside Remediation & Agricultural Missions) Total Time: 4.5 Hours (1.5 hr mission briefing & safety audit, 3 hr live field capstone exercise)

I. Core Field Modules

Module 1: Pre-Deployment Mission Briefing & Risk Assessment (45 Mins)

Site Survey & Hazard Identification: Assessing local topography, power lines, wind patterns, and unauthorized ground personnel prior to launching heavy agricultural or mapping platforms.
Crew Briefing (Tailgate Meeting): Assigning explicit roles for the day—designating the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC), Visual Observer (VO), and Payload Master.
Go/No-Go Decision Matrix: Reviewing weather forecasts, airspace notifications (TFRs/LAANC), and equipment logs to make a final operational sign-off.

Module 2: Live Field Execution & Multi-Payload Rotation (150 Mins)

Multispectral Mapping Flight: Executing an automated grid mission over a simulated burn scar to capture baseline NDVI index imagery.
Variable-Rate Seeding Run: Swapping payloads, verifying hopper calibration, and executing a targeted broadcast drop based on generated prescription shapefiles.
Contingency Drill Integration: Simulating an unexpected lost-link or low-battery emergency mid-mission to test crew response protocols.

Module 3: Post-Flight Debrief & Program Graduation (75 Mins)

Data Offloading & Telemetry Sync: Uploading flight logs, seed drop statistics, and processed maps to the central tracking database.
Cohort Debrief: Analyzing lessons learned, evaluating mission efficiency, and issuing internal cohort completion certificates.

II. End-of-Day Capstone Check

Question 1: Pre-Deployment Briefings

What is the primary objective of conducting a crew "tailgate" briefing right before launching a complex agricultural seeding operation?

A) To fulfill FAA Remote ID physical hardware requirements.

B) To ensure every crew member understands their specific role, emergency procedures, airspace boundaries, and potential site hazards before flight. (Correct)

C) To automatically calculate battery discharge rates.

Question 2: Crew Resource Management (CRM)

During a live field mission, the Visual Observer (VO) notices an unannounced hiker entering the safety buffer zone below the active flight path. What protocol must be immediately initiated?

A) The VO immediately informs the RPIC, who halts autonomous operations, pauses the flight path, or maneuvers the aircraft away from the hazard. (Correct)

B) The RPIC ignores the civilian because drones have the right-of-way over pedestrians.

C) The ground crew disconnects the controller power supply.

Question 3: Post-Mission Protocol

Why is logging total seed weight dispensed, acres covered, and flight telemetry immediately following a field deployment critical for the cohort project?

A) It satisfies mandatory FAA Part 107 night lighting exemptions.

B) It maintains accurate project telemetry records, verifies prescription execution accuracy, and populates institutional restoration databases. (Correct)

C) It recharges the smart batteries automatically.